Surgical operating lamp with individual spot-lights

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a surgical operating lamp with individual spot-lights disposed around a central axis of the lamp, the light rays of said spot-lights meeting approximately on this axis and at a desired distance from the surgical operating lamp, as a result of an adjustable inclination of the individual projectors to the central axis. A single handle adjusts all the individual spot-lights in the lamp.

I United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,887,801 Ilzig et a]. June 3, 1975SURGICAL OPERATING LAMP WITH 3,005,087 10/1961 Klein 240/ 1.4 INDIVIDUALSPOTJJGHTS $754,133 8/l953 Youdin et al. 240/1.4

[75] lnventors: Karl F. Ilzig, Hanau; Klaus M.

.Iunginger, Rodenbach; Alois Rieth, Primar y ExammerR1chard M. SheerOffenbachBiebfl of Germany Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Sughrue, Rothwell,Mion, [73] Assignee: Original Hanau Quarzlampen Zinn and Macpeak Gmbll,D-6450 Hanau, Germany [22] Filed: Jan. 24, 1974 [2]] Appl. No.: 436,256[57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data The presentinvention relates to a surgical operating Feb. 6 1973 German N 2305 lampwith individual sp0t-lights disposed around a central axis of the lamp,the light rays of said spot- [52] US. Cl. 240/].4; 240/4LI5; 240/44lights ng pp m ly on thi xis and at a de- 51 1111. Cl. Afilg 13/00; F2lv33/00 sired distance from the surgical operating p. as a [58] Field of Sch H 240/14, 41,15 44 result of an adjustable inclination of theindividual projectors to the central axis A single handle adjusts [56]References Cit d all the individual spot-lights in the lamp.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,909,947 5/l933 Greppin 240/l .4 7 Claims, 2Drawing Figures J I F I l SURGICAL OPERATING LAMP WITH INDIVIDUALSPOT-LIGHTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In a known method, in order toobtain a shadowless lighting of the operating area, several individualprojectors are disposed on a spherical surface within a surgicaloperating lamp so much apart from each other and focused in such a waythat the surgeon can operate in the operating area without the hindranceof shadow effectsv For this purpose, for instance, a certain amount ofindividual projectors, circularly spaced, can be equally disposed aroundthe central axis of the surgical operating lamp, their light raysmeeting on this axis by an appropriate inclination of the individualprojectors towards the said axis. However, should the distance betweenthe surgical operating lamp and the operating area have to be modified,this arrangement is inappropriate, in order to guarantee at all times afocusing of the individual light rays onto the operating area. On theone hand, an illumination as effective as possible of the operating areais thereby to be achieved, but on the other hand, it is undesirable thatthe peripherical areas, which are mostly covered with white cloths, tobe strongly illuminated, which could cause a glare and therefore ahindrance to the surgeon.

For the purpose of obtaining a variable focusing in the case of surgicaloperating lamp with symmetrically distributed individual spotlights aswell as with a central light disposed in the central axis of thesurgical operat ing lamp, it is known to incorporate a joint swivelingdevice of the individual projectors, operable from outside, with whichthe distance between the lamp housing and the spot at which the opticalaxes of the individual projectors meet is adjustable. An adjustingsupport for the reversals of the lamp protrudes, in the form ofa lateralbearing, serving for the suspension of the lamp and adjustable byturning it at that spot. The turning is transmitted through theadjusting support to a toothed rim by means of a pinion disposed towardsthe central lamp, a steering rod gearing also articularly to the properswiveling individual projector or to the circularly curved guide rail ofan adjustable individual projector. Since, due to the overlength of therods, these do not run radially and on the symmetrical axis of thesurgical operating lamp, a radial displacement component is transmittedto the individual projectors by the turning of the pinion, whereby thesechange their position jointly and evenly, so that the point ofintersection of the optical axes n the symmetrical axis of the surgicaloperating lamp can be shifted.

An important disadvantage of the known surgical operating lamps is thatthese are of a complicated construction, consisting of numerouscomponent parts, and enable only a shifting and an adjustment which arenot linear, due to their special shift of motion, so that, with a givenadjusting turning angle, a different shift of the point of intersectionof the optical axes from the surgical operating lamp occurs depending onthe initial position of the adjusting mechanism. In some areas, aprecise shifting and adjustment is possible, whereas in other areas theoperator must further turn the adjusting support in order to obtain thesame shifting effect. Such an operation is complicated as well ashindering, since the surgeon must concentrate himself completely on thepatient and the shifting and adjustment of the surgi cal operating lamprepresent a very important task but,

after all, only a secondary one. Furthermore, especially in the case oflarge surgical operating lamps. the lateral access to the means ofshifting and adjustment is not optimal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention consists in thecreation of a surgical operating lamp of the mentioned type, without acentral light, whereby the individual spotlights can be completelylinearly shifted and adjusted, at least in the main area, in a simplemanner and are easily accessible. The surgical operating lamp should besimple in design, and therefore inexpensive, and contain only a fewcomponent parts needing no servicing. Furthermore, the arrangementshould be so selected that the operating lamp is as compact as possible,in order to oppose as little a resistance as possible in the operatingtheatre or in an operating cabin to an air current serv ing assterilizer and directed from top to bottom, paral lel to the lightingcircuit.

The solution to the task in question is attained by a surgical operatinglamp of the mentioned type, in that each individual lamp assembly ispivotally attached to the surgical lamp structure and has a pinextending from one side which engages a central slotted cam member whichis rotatable from below the lamp.

The most important advantage of the invention is that it makes itpossible to attain a completely linear shifting and adjustment of theindividual lights by turning in a simple manner the slotted cam memberdisposed in the center of the lamp and accessible from be low. As thepins on the lights are directly engaged with the slots in the cammember, without the need of any other intermediate link, the wholesurgical operating lamp is uncomplicated and inexpensive inconstruction, and allows a compact arrangement of the individual lights.As compared with the known surgical operating lamps with adjustableindividual lights, the new surgical operating lamp can be constructedconsiderably smaller, so that the sterilizing air current is onlyslightly impaired. Since the slotted cam member can be directly rotatedfrom below, it can also serve to adjust the whole surgical operatinglamp in its suspension.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a surgicaloperating lamp according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the surgical operating lamp of FIG. I.

DETAlLED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A surgical operatinglamp 10 has a housing 12 closed towards the top, at the lower side ofwhich windows 14 are disposed in the area of each individual lights 16.Each individual light 16 houses a bulb 20 disposed in a lamp spot-light18. Each of the individual lights 16 are pivotally attached to mounts 22attached to the lower portion of housing 12. The pivoting axis of eachlight is tangent to a common circle around the central axis of thesurgical operating lamp 10. Each individual projector 16 is alsoprovided with a pin 24 which is dis posed at the spot nearest to thecentral axis of the surgical operating lamp 10. The pin 24 engages slot28, in a slotted cam member 26, disposed centrally and revolvable frombelow by way of handle 30.

The slotted cam member 26 is formed with interme diate wall 26a, upperwall 26b having a plurality of cam slots 28 therethrough and lower wall260 to which is attached handle 30. The number of cam slots 28 corre'spond to the number of individual lights l6 used in the operating lamp.Lower wall 266 of slotted cam 26 is projected to the outside of the lampthrough an opening at the lower side of the surgical operating lamp.Handle 30 is attached to lower wall 26c such that it transmits torque tothe cam member 26, but may be removed therefrom to facilitatesterilization.

The slotted cam 26 is prevented from inadvertent rotation by spring 32,which frictionally bears against in termediate wall 26a and adjustablestop 36. The position of stop 36 relative to cam member 26 is variableby screw connection on a bolt 34. As a result thereof the friction catchfor the avoidance of involuntary displacement of the individualprojectors 16 can be ad justed to the prevailing requirements.

Depending on the length and the gradient of the slots 28, a greater orsmaller maximum surveiling angle a of the individual projectors 16 canbe attained. When the skewed slots 28 are greatly inclined, a greatchange in the inclination of the individual spot-lights l6, and

thereby a great change in the position of the point of intersection ofthe optical axis is generated by a small rotation of the adjustinghandle 30. In order to attain a shifting and an adjustment not toosensible and. furthermore, needing no energy, it is proper to select nottoo great an inclination. However, if too small a gradi ent is selected,the length of the slots 28 needed to affect a constant swiveling angle(1, becomes too great and the sensibility of the shifting and adjustmentdrops too much. As a practical matter, a gradient of the slots 28 ofapproximately 10 to has proven to be adequate.

Besides the straight slots 28 of the above example type, in order toattain a linearly shifting and adjustment over the whole area, it isalso possible, to give a fine shifting and adjustment to the surgicaloperating lamp in the central area mainly used, and a rough shifting andadjustment in the end areas seldom used, to at tain the maximumswiveling angle a. A reverse arrangement is also possible, by which theshifting and adjustment are quicker in the central area and slower inthe end area or areas.

The surgical operating lamp 10 is suspended from rod 38 by means ofknown type which permit angular adjustment of the lamp assembly.

In the example type represented, a surgical operating lamp with threeindividual lights 16 is used, said lights being disposed at 120 fromeach other around a starshaped lighting body. Thereby the housing 12encloses the individual projectors l6 and is indented between them, sothat the area of the surgical operating lamp l0 hereby submitted to thesterilizing air current is relatively small. Of course, the surgicaloperating lamp can also have any amount of individual lights 17 and, insuch case a circular housing 12 may be used.

The adjusting handle can be connected to lower wall 26c to transmittorque therebetween and still be released for sterilizing purposes ofthe surgical operating lamp. The central adjusting handle 30 serves, onthe one hand, for the swiveling and adjustment of the whole surgicallamp 10 with respect to support 38, and, on the other hand, for thefocusing of the individual projectors l6. lts central position enablesan easy access in each position of the surgical operating lamp 10.

The main advantage of the new surgical operating lamp consists in thatthe shifting and adjustment of the individual projectors, and thus, thefocusing, can be attained completely linearly and with a compactconstruction of the surgical operating lamp, with less and simpler meansthan with the known surgical operating lamp. Thereby the adjustment ofthe inclination of the individual lights occurs over a joint and centraladjusting handle of easy access and which is easily removable and can berapidly sterilized in case of need.

What is claimed is:

1. In a surgical operating lamp having a housing with at least one holetherethrough and a plurality of individual lights pivotally mountedwithin said housing and disposed about a central axis of the lamp suchthat the rays of each individual light meet on the central axis at adesired distance from the lamp, the improved lamp pivoting meanscomprising a. cam means within the housing having an annularintermediate wall oriented perpendicular to the central axis of thelamp, an upper wall attached to the outer periphery of said annularintermediate wall and extending in a first direction, said upper wallhaving a plurality of slots therethrough defining a plurality of camsurfaces, the longitudinal axes of said slots inclined with respect tothe central axis of said lamp, and a lower wall attached to the innerperiphery of said annular intermediate wall and extending in a directionopposite that of said upper wall, said lower wall pivotally extendingthrough the hole in said lamp housing;

b. a handle attached to said lower wall and extending exteriorly of saidlamp housing; and

c. pins affixed to each individual light and bearing on one of the camsurface of said cam means, such that rotation of said handle produces acorresponding rotation of said cam means which thereby causes saidlights to pivot about an axis tangent to a common circle drawn about thecentral axis of the surgical operating lamp.

2. The improved surgical operating lamp of claim 1 wherein said slotsare linear.

3. The improved surgical operating lamp of claim 2 wherein thelongitudinal axis of said slots are at an angle of from to with respectto the central axis of the lamp.

4. The improved surgical operating lamp of claim 1 wherein thelongitudinal axis of said pins are with respect to the pivot axis of theindividual lights.

5. The improved surgical operating lamp of claim l wherein said handlemeans is releasably attached to said lower wall.

6. The improved surgical operating lamp of claim 1 wherein frictionalanti-rotation means are interposed between said housing and said cammeans to prevent inadvertent rotation of said cam means.

7. The improved surgical operating lamp of claim 6 wherein saidfrictional anti-rotation means comprises a spring having one end bearingagainst said cam means and the opposite end bearing against adjustablestop means threadingly engaged with a bolt projecting through the top ofsaid housing.

1. In a surgical operating lamp having a housing with at least one holetherEthrough and a plurality of individual lights pivotally mountedwithin said housing and disposed about a central axis of the lamp suchthat the rays of each individual light meet on the central axis at adesired distance from the lamp, the improved lamp pivoting meanscomprising a. cam means within the housing having an annularintermediate wall oriented perpendicular to the central axis of thelamp, an upper wall attached to the outer periphery of said annularintermediate wall and extending in a first direction, said upper wallhaving a plurality of slots therethrough defining a plurality of camsurfaces, the longitudinal axes of said slots inclined with respect tothe central axis of said lamp, and a lower wall attached to the innerperiphery of said annular intermediate wall and extending in a directionopposite that of said upper wall, said lower wall pivotally extendingthrough the hole in said lamp housing; b. a handle attached to saidlower wall and extending exteriorly of said lamp housing; and c. pinsaffixed to each individual light and bearing on one of the cam surfaceof said cam means, such that rotation of said handle produces acorresponding rotation of said cam means which thereby causes saidlights to pivot about an axis tangent to a common circle drawn about thecentral axis of the surgical operating lamp.
 1. In a surgical operatinglamp having a housing with at least one hole therEthrough and aplurality of individual lights pivotally mounted within said housing anddisposed about a central axis of the lamp such that the rays of eachindividual light meet on the central axis at a desired distance from thelamp, the improved lamp pivoting means comprising a. cam means withinthe housing having an annular intermediate wall oriented perpendicularto the central axis of the lamp, an upper wall attached to the outerperiphery of said annular intermediate wall and extending in a firstdirection, said upper wall having a plurality of slots therethroughdefining a plurality of cam surfaces, the longitudinal axes of saidslots inclined with respect to the central axis of said lamp, and alower wall attached to the inner periphery of said annular intermediatewall and extending in a direction opposite that of said upper wall, saidlower wall pivotally extending through the hole in said lamp housing; b.a handle attached to said lower wall and extending exteriorly of saidlamp housing; and c. pins affixed to each individual light and bearingon one of the cam surface of said cam means, such that rotation of saidhandle produces a corresponding rotation of said cam means which therebycauses said lights to pivot about an axis tangent to a common circledrawn about the central axis of the surgical operating lamp.
 2. Theimproved surgical operating lamp of claim 1 wherein said slots arelinear.
 3. The improved surgical operating lamp of claim 2 wherein thelongitudinal axis of said slots are at an angle of from 75* to 80* withrespect to the central axis of the lamp.
 4. The improved surgicaloperating lamp of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal axis of said pins are90* with respect to the pivot axis of the individual lights.
 5. Theimproved surgical operating lamp of claim 1 wherein said handle means isreleasably attached to said lower wall.
 6. The improved surgicaloperating lamp of claim 1 wherein frictional anti-rotation means areinterposed between said housing and said cam means to preventinadvertent rotation of said cam means.